Orlando City B

Selecting the 2017 Orlando City B Best XI

Published

8 years ago

October 17, 2017

Throughout the 2017 USL season, 32 players have played for OCB in at least one of the young Lions' many different starting XIs. Fourteen players found the back of the net, while another 21 picked up at least one card. There have been players that have made as many as 28 appearances to as few as one.

With the developmental side’s roster constantly changing, it is difficult to pick one player at each position that excelled more than anyone else. However, to make things a little easier, all the players in this 2017 Best XI played a minimum of 10 games. Also, with only two contracted players above the age of 25 — Timbo and Lewis Neal — there is so much potential with almost all the individuals. All the players involved are judged simply on their performances in 2017 USL play, and not on what they could contribute to OCB and Orlando City in the future.

Goalkeeper: Earl Edwards Jr.

This is the only position with no contest. Orlando City signing Josh Saunders was the best thing for Edwards, and the 25-year-old former third-round pick finished the season seventh in saves and third in clean sheets in the USL, while only playing 22 games. Edwards was not just the best keeper for OCB, but one of the best in the league.

Fullback: Zachary Ellis-Hayden

Ellis-Hayden made 24 appearances, 19 of which were starts, in his second season on OCB. The Canadian needs to improve his attack, but was as solid defensively as he could’ve been asked to be in 2017. He led the team in tackles and was in the top five in clearances, blocks, and interceptions. His eight yellow cards are a cause for concern, and his 80% passing accuracy could have been better, but you know what you are going to get with Ellis-Hayden. He was a consistently impressive fullback that got forward and threatened offensively.

Center Back: Seb Hines

I wrote about Hines’ roller coaster of a career a few weeks ago, which has had as many ups and downs as a gymnast. This year, however, Hines has only improved. MLSers that are sent down to the USL could take it in two ways — as a joke, and proceed to just go through the motions; or by making the best of it and showing that they belong. Hines chose the latter option and helped OCB to a 12-match unbeaten run. When Hines has started and played the first five minutes of any match, he hadn’t lost since September of 2016 until this past Sunday vs. Columbus. Hines played 15 games for OCB in 2017, and finished with 79% passing accuracy, a 77% tackle success rate, just five yellow cards, and a goal. The center back was rewarded for his great play with a starting spot on the MLS side.

Center Back: Zach Carroll

Statistically, Carroll was OCB’s best defender. His 39 interceptions, 85 clearances, and 57 aerial duels won were all team highs. Additionally, he had the second-most passes with 1,035, which is 187 better than the third-best player. Carroll’s 11 blocks and 271 long passes were also second-best among the young Lions. The defender played 24 games in the USL this season and was a key part of the defense after signing from the USL defending champion New York Red Bulls II.

Fullback: Scott Thomsen

Statistically, nothing about Thomsen’s 2017 jumps off the page. He played just 15 games, did not score any goals, and his 74% passing accuracy is one of the worst on the team. However, left back was probably OCB’s weakest position and when Thomsen was in he performed well. He got forward when he could and made some key stops on the defensive end. The 23-year-old put the ball on a platter for Albert Dikwa on his lone assist of the year that helped the young Lions to a comeback 1-1 draw against Charlotte. Also, unlike many fullbacks, the majority of his passes were in attacking positions instead of back to safety. Finally, Thomsen played in less than half of the young Lions’ games, but put in the fourth-most crosses on OCB.

Midfielder: Pierre Da Silva

Over his first two seasons, Da Silva is arguably Orlando’s biggest success story and it is nowhere even near being finished. The 19-year-old is the first player to jump from the Orlando City Academy to OCB to Orlando City, and this season it’s been clear why. A look at the stats sheet tells you that Da Silva was second in shots and games played and led the young Lions in assists, starts, chances created, and shots on goal. All those things are great accomplishments, but the real treat is seeing him play. In 2017, Da Silva showed that he was one of the most talented players in USL, but he is not quite ready for MLS. Sure, he had games where he was quiet — the season finale against Tampa, for example — but expect the academy product to get some minutes with the MLS side in 2018 after his performances this year.

One thing that needs to be looked at with Da Silva is his disciplinary record. Not only did he commit the most fouls on OCB this year, but his six yellows and two red cards are also cause for concern. Opponents tended to mark him closely and foul him often, but he needs to stay calm and not give up unnecessary fouls that can hurt the team.

Midfielder: Richie Laryea

Laryea spent most of the year with the MLS side, so he was a tough one. On one hand, he only played 12 games in the USL, but he finished second in goals and fourth in assists among OCB players. When Laryea was in, he was constantly changing the game and one of the better players. His standout performances in USL earned him 10 games in MLS.

Midfielder: Austin Martz

On a roster that was constantly changing, Martz was one of the few constants. The 25-year-old played in 30 of OCB’s 32 games, making 22 starts. Of his 30 appearances, he only went the full 90 minutes 12 times so, moving forward, that is something that will need to increase. However, he did what was needed of him in each game and could be counted on to perform his role. In those 12 games that Martz played the full 90, the young Lions went 7-1-4, and OCB failed to win both games that Martz did not take part in. Additionally, his versatility was key, and he filled in on the back line this season, as well as playing in his natural midfield position.

Midfielder: Jordan Schweitzer

The 23-year-old played in 24 games in 2017, and his season could be summarized in his call up to the Canadian National Team. Schweitzer’s touch is arguably the best on the team, and he rarely gives the ball up in possession, leading to an 85% passing accuracy. That 85% is second-best among players that played at least 15 games, and just 1% behind Conor Donovan, whose majority of passes were inside OCB’s own half. Schweitzer finished with just one goal and one assist, but was in the top 10 in all the key defensive statistics — clearances, blocks, interceptions, and tackles. Schweitzer could have done a little more on the attacking end of the field, but playing the majority of the time in one of the holding midfield roles limited him in that area. Overall, Schweitzer was one of the best young Lions in 2017.

Midfielder: Lewis Neal

Neal is a tough one, as Paul Clowes could have definitely been in this spot. However, Neal gets the edge for his leadership and teaching role on the team, as well as playing the third-most minutes for OCB, behind only Da Silva and Edwards. Many times the game seemed to go through Neal, which culminated in him finishing the season with the most passes on OCB. The 36-year-old veteran was not always the best player on the field — and he may not be back in 2018 — but as the captain of a young, developmental team, his leadership should not be undervalued. He finished the year with three goals and three assists in 24 appearances.

Forward: Hadji Barry

Another obvious choice, Barry was one of the best players for OCB. The UCF product led the team in goals (10) and scored more than three times more than the next-highest player. Barry showed flashes of why Orlando City drafted him, and dominated the games most of the time when he was in. Similar to Da Silva, Barry’s quality is above most of the USL players, but not good enough for MLS yet. After a successful 2017 season, Barry should be rewarded with on-and-off time on the MLS squad in 2018.

Orlando City B

Orlando City B Announces Schedule for 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Season

Find out where, when, and who the Young Lions of OCB will play in 2026.

Published

3 weeks ago

January 21, 2026

Sean Rollins

Image courtesy of Orlando City B

The 2026 MLS NEXT Pro schedule was released today, telling us where, when, and who Orlando City B will play in the team’s fifth year in the league. The addition of Connecticut United FC sees the league expand to 30 teams, with 27 MLS reserve sides and three independent clubs.

The schedule remains at 28 games, with Orlando City B playing 14 at home and 14 away. OCB’s home games will once again take place at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee.

OCB will start the 2026 season with a pair of home games, facing Huntsville City FC on Monday, March 2, and Chicago Fire FC II on Sunday, March 8. The first away game of the season is slated for Saturday, March 14, when the Young Lions face Carolina Core FC in High Point, NC.

The Young Lions will also end the upcoming season with a two-game homestand. They face Toronto FC II on Sunday, Sept. 13, and Atlanta United 2 on Sunday, Sept. 20. All Decision Day games in the Eastern Conference will start at 2 p.m., and the Western Conference game times have yet to be announced.

The Young Lions will compete in the 16-team Eastern Conference as part of the Southeast Division. Connecticut joins the Northeast Division, and Chicago moves to the Southeast Division. As a result, OCB’s division will consist of Atlanta, Carolina Core FC, Chattanooga FC, Chicago, Crown Legacy FC, Huntsville City FC, and Inter Miami II.

Once again, teams will only face those from their own conference, and OCB will play each team in its division three times. The Young Lions will face Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Chicago once at home and twice away. They’ll play Carolina, Crown Legacy, Huntsville, and Miami twice at home and once away.

The longest homestand this year is only two games, scheduled to happen four times, including the opening and closing matches of the season. OCB will spend the majority of July and August on the road with two three-game road trips, separated by an Aug. 19 home game against Huntsville City.

Unlike MLS and the NWSL, MLS NEXT Pro will play through the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That spreads the games out a little more evenly than the other leagues. The busiest month is August, when OCB will play six games. The Young Lions are scheduled to play four games in March, May, June, and July, while only playing three times each in April and September.

Unsurprisingly, the most common day of the week the Young Lions will play is Sunday (18 times). They’ll play six times on Friday, twice on Wednesday, and once each on Monday and Friday. The most common kickoff time is 7 p.m. The Young Lions will play 20 games at that time, twice each at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and once at 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 8 p.m.

OCB is scheduled to play six times on the same day as either Orlando City or the Pride. On March 14, the Young Lions travel to Carolina at 3 p.m. while the senior Lions host CF Montreal at 7:30 p.m. They host Miami at 7 p.m. on May 24 — the same time the Pride face San Diego Wave FC in California. On July 18, OCB will face Chattanooga FC at 7 p.m. in Tennessee while the Pride play in Utah at 8:45 p.m. The Young Lions face Connecticut away at 7 p.m. on Aug. 1 while City plays the New York Red Bulls in New Jersey at 7:30 p.m. On Aug. 19, OCB hosts Chattanooga FC at 7 p.m., while Orlando City hosts Chicago at 7:30 p.m. Finally, on Aug. 22, the Young Lions will face Atlanta away at 7 p.m. while City hosts Real Salt Lake at 7:30 p.m.

Orlando City B’s 2026 Schedule

Monday, March 2 — vs Huntsville City FC, 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 8 — vs Chicago Fire FC II, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 14 — at Carolina Core FC, 3 p.m.
Sunday, March 22 — vs Inter Miami CF II, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 11 — at Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 19 — vs Carolina Core FC, 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 26 — at Chicago Fire FC II, 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 3 — vs Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 10 — at Atlanta United 2, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 17 — at New England Revolution II, 2 p.m.
Sunday, May 24 — vs Inter Miami CF II, 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 7 — vs Carolina Core FC, 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 13 — at Huntsville City FC, 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 21 — vs Philadelphia Union II, 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 28 — vs Columbus Crew 2, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 5 — at Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 12 — at FC Cincinnati 2, 6 p.m.
Saturday, July 18 — at Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 26 — vs Huntsville City FC, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 1 — at Connecticut United FC, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 12 — at New York City FC II, 5 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 16 — at Chicago Fire FC II, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 19 — vs Chattanooga FC, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 22 — at Atlanta United 2, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 30 — vs Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 4 — at Inter Miami CF II, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 13 — vs Toronto FC II, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 20 — vs Atlanta United 2, 2 p.m.

Orlando City

Four OCB Players Who Could Make MLS Debuts In 2026

Who are the most likely OCB players to make their first team-debuts during the 2026 season?

Published

1 month ago

January 5, 2026

Sean Rollins

Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Orlando City has invested significantly in youth development since Luiz Muzzi and Ricardo Moreira arrived prior to the 2019 season. After signing just four players in the first five years after the club’s expansion announcement, Orlando City has signed 14 academy products to first-team deals in the last seven years.

While Muzzi departed the club this off-season, Moreira took over the role, so the emphasis developing homegrown talent is unlikely to change.

This past season alone, the club saw Colin Guske, Gustavo Caraballo, and Zakaria Taifi make their first-team debuts. Additionally, Tahir Reid-Brown, despite not getting on the field, was on the senior side’s bench for four games.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the most likely OCB players to join the first team for the 2026 season.

Tahir Reid-Brown, 19, Defender

The most likely player to make his first team debut in 2026 is 19-year-old fullback Reid-Brown. He’s already on an MLS contract and plays left back, a position currently of need for the Lions. The defender has been with the Young Lions for the last four years, making 56 appearances with 36 starts.

Reid-Brown initially played opposite Alex Freeman on the OCB back line before Freeman made the jump to the MLS squad and was replaced by Taifi, who also ended the 2025 campaign with the first team.

Adding to the likelihood that Reid-Brown might see playing time is the uncertainty at left back. Adrian Marin is the current projected starting left back, but the Spaniard was less than impressive in his first season with Orlando City. Unless the club signs more depth at that position before the season begins, you can exepct to see Reid-Brown get some MLS playing time before long.

Jackson Platts, 18, Defender

Another player who could see his first team debut in 2026 is center back Jackson Platts. The 18-year-old was a regular OCB starter alongside Thomas Williams in 2024 before being relegated to the bench in 2025. However, the starter alongside Williams last season was Hayden Sargis, who didn’t come from the academy and is currently out of contract.

Like all defensive positions, the Lions have a lack of depth that could provide opportunities for young players. The only center backs are Robin Jansson and David Brekalo, forcing the need for a backup. The club also traded Williams, opening more room.

Platts is also a versatile option. While his natural position is center back, he’s also spent time as an outside back and in the midfield. That versatility could result in him seeing MLS action this year.

Justin Hylton, 18, Forward

The OCB player that took the biggest leap in 2025 was unquestionably Justin Hylton. The teenager was a star for the U-17 team before making his professional debut for the Young Lions. Originally a backup, he soon became a focal point of the attack and created problems for opposing defenses.

Hylton made his OCB debut on June 1 and didn’t start until Aug. 23. But he was in the starting lineup for the final six games of the season and was a crucial part of the team’s late successes. He ended the season with 11 appearances, starting six games, and recording two assists.

The only issue for Hylton is that his position is currently not the most in need. Whether the club sees him up top or in the attacking midfield, there are players in front of him. However, we could see him make his debut in an Open Cup or Leagues Cup game, if not as a late substitute in the regular season.

Dylan Judelson, 17, Midfielder

Judelson is another player who joined OCB from the academy in 2025. He started the season on an academy contract but signed to the club’s second team on Aug. 5. The defensive midfielder was a key part of the team from day one, starting the first four games of the season.

In all, Judelson made 20 appearances in 2025 with nine starts. He was in and out of the lineup with Guske, Riyon Tori, and Jhon Solis also seeing time in the role. But the Canadian youth international was very solid when on the field.

Although the departure of Cesar Araujo works in Judelson’s favor, he’s still behind veterans Eduard Atuesta, Braian Ojeda, and Wilder Cartagena, as well as Guske and MLS U22 Initiative signing Luis Otavio, while Joran Gerbet is also under contract but will miss the first part of the season recovering from a knee injury.

It’s a crowded field in front of Judelson in his position group, meaning he’ll have the biggest uphill climb of the players mentioned in this column to make his first-team debut. However, we could see the teenager with the first team for the first time this year if his development continues and there are injuries and suspensions ahead of him on the depth chart.

After years of the academy failing to produce talent for the first team, Orlando City has become one of the league’s standard bearers. That’s likely to continue this season, and it might be the start of a successful professional career at the senior level for these young players.

Orlando City B

Orlando City Exercises Contract Option on OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg

Manuel Goldberg is back to lead the Young Lions of OCB in 2026 after the club exercised his contract option.

Published

3 months ago

November 19, 2025

Sean Rollins

Image of OCB Head Coach Manuel Goldberg holding up an OCB scarf.

Image courtesy of Orlando City B / Mark Thor

Orlando City announced today that the club has exercised the option on Orlando City B Head Coach Manuel Goldberg’s contract, keeping him in purple through 2026. The Young Lions’ boss enters his third season in the position in 2026 and his fifth overall with the team.

“Since taking over the role as head coach of OCB, Manu has done a tremendous job connecting with our MLS NEXT Pro players, developing their skillsets and preparing them for opportunities with the first team and beyond,” Orlando City General Manager & Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “His deep understanding of our player pathway and internal processes has been invaluable. The continuity Manu provides is critical for the career development of both our players and staff.”

Goldberg initially joined the club in 2022 as an assistant to Martin Perelman. When Perelman was promoted to first-team assistant, Orlando City announced Goldberg as his successor on March 11, 2024. At 30 years old, Goldberg became the youngest head coach in the short history of MLS NEXT Pro.

In his first season in the position, Goldberg led his team to a record of 11-9-9 (28 points), finishing fifth in MLS NEXT Pro’s Eastern Conference. The Young Lions took fourth-seeded Chicago Fire FC II to penalties in the first round of the playoffs away from home, where they fell 5-4 to end their season.

The 2025 campaign was particularly disappointing, as the Young Lions failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2022. They finished the year with 28 points (9-13-6) and tumbled to 11th in the Eastern Conference after a promising start.

Overall, Goldberg has a record of 18-21-16 in 55 games leading the Young Lions. His draw in Chicago in 2024 (and subsequent penalty shootout loss) was his only playoff appearance. Meanwhile, his teams have been 9-7 in penalty shootouts over the past two seasons.

However, Goldberg has been successful in his primary objective of producing players for the first team. Since becoming head coach of OCB, three players — Colin Guske, Gustavo Caraballo, and Zakaria Taifi — have signed Homegrown Player contracts, while Justin Ellis is seemingly on the brink of signing one as well. He’s also coached backup goalkeeper Javier Otero and, most notably, starting right back Alex Freeman, helping them develop into first-team contributors.

Goldberg began his coaching career at Israeli side Hapoel Katamon in 2015 following a three-year playing career in the country. He then joined Club Nautico Hacoaj in Buenos Aires, Argentina as an assistant coach from 2017 to 2019 before becoming a competitive program coach at Barça Academy PRO Miami. After two years in South Florida, he was hired by Orlando City as Perelman’s assistant with OCB.